Manhunt goes after the helicopter thief who crashed a $7.5 million plane after breaking into four helicopters that failed to take off in a nighttime raid on a private airbase in Sacramento
- The manhunt is on for a thief who crashed a $7.5 million helicopter after his attempts to start four others failed at a private Sacramento airbase.
- The suspect tried to steal a helicopter, but was unable to get it off the ground and crashed on the runway, damaging other aircraft.
- The incident is being investigated by the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration, who went to the scene to collect evidence.
A manhunt is underway for a thief who crashed a $7.5 million helicopter after attempts to start four more failed at a private Sacramento airbase.
The suspect broke into the Sacramento Executive Airport in the early hours of Wednesday morning with the intent to hijack a plane.
He tried to start four different helicopters. before climbing into fifth and managing to start the engine, but was unable to get it airborne and crashed on the runway damaging numerous other helicopters.
Police responded to reports of the escape at 5 a.m., but the suspect had fled the scene before officers arrived and they are unaware of any injuries he sustained.
The incident is being investigated by the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) who went to the scene to collect evidence.
The manhunt is on for a thief who crashed a $7.5 million helicopter after his attempts to start four others failed at a private Sacramento airbase.
The plane, a luxury Bell 429 helicopter, was found completely mangled on its side with a cracked tail boom and broken rotors.
Debris from the accident spread hundreds of meters on the runway.
The aircraft, a luxury Bell 429 helicopter valued at $7.5 million, with capacity for seven passengers and believed to belong to Capitol Helicopters, sustained significant damage.
It looked completely mangled on its side with a broken tail arm and broken rotors.
And the debris from the accident spread hundreds of meters on the runway.
An FBI spokesman said: ‘The Sacramento Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Sacramento Police department are investigating the theft of an aircraft at Sacramento Executive Airport that caused damage to several aircraft in the Sacramento Executive Airport this morning.
“Upon arriving on scene at Sacramento Executive Airport, the officer located a helicopter that had been operated and was involved in an incident that caused damage to multiple aircraft.
“This investigation is ongoing, and the FBI and the Sacramento Police Department continue to work collaboratively to investigate the incident and locate the subjects involved.”
And the FAA will publish a preliminary report of the accident in the next few days.
The incident is being investigated by the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) who went to the scene to collect evidence.
Local pilots at the airport have previously expressed safety concerns and called for additional measures.
One pilot said the fences are not high enough and there are no surveillance cameras.
An airport spokesman said they will see what the investigation shows before commenting on the incident.
Capitol Helicopters is headquartered at the Sacramento Executive Airport and has a fleet of 13 aircraft to support Northern California with charter, utility, agricultural and fire suppression services.
